cell+phones

=**Cell Phones in the Classroom**=

Cell phones can be used in a classroom to not only curb disruptive behavior, but can also lead to more learning. The disconnect that occurs between schools and cell phones occurs at the point that schools don't understand the capabilities that these cell phones can provide their students. Here are some ways that cell phones are advantageous to our schools:


 * Students can take pictures of class projects to e-mail or show to parents. Ordinarily, parents do not see projects that are completed in groups in school.
 * Students can **text message** missed assignments to classmates that are absent. A buddy system can be put into place.
 * Many cell phones are equipped with **calculators**—plenty of new **math curricula** encourage the use of a calculator when problem-solving. A student should become accustomed to having a calculator handy for both homework and **real life math applications.**
 * If a student is slow to copy notes from the board, pictures can be taken of the missed notes and accessed later. Ditto sending notes to absent classmates.
 * Students can listen to music with ear buds if the cell phone is equipped with this option during independent study—many students find this relaxing and comfortable and are more productive as a result.

However, there are issues that arise from allowing cell phone use in class. Specific rules and times need to be set up so that students are not using their cell phones to be disruptive to class or use them as cheating devices during a quiz or test. These rules and times can be easily set up to ensure that cell phone use in class is effectively utilized.

=Your Mission=

You will have 15 minutes to research the use of cell phones in educational settings. Use the websites below to get started.Your goal is to add some examples of cell phone usage in the classroom to the bottom of this page. (To edit this page, click on the edit tab at the upper right of this page). At the end of the 15 minutes, you will make a brief presentation (1-2 minutes), which will


 * Define the advantageous role of cell phones in the class
 * Provide example(s) of how cell phones can be used in your content area (be specific!)

Sites to get started on: @http://teachingtechnology.suite101.com/article.cfm/fair_cell_phone_use_in_schools @http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/23/technology/cellphone.fortune/index.htm

=Note:= Google Voice can put a buffer between students and your personal cell phone,

Advantageous role:

 * cheaper than laptops
 * access is available (vs. internet)
 * cameras, video
 * texting
 * AUTHENTIC

**Other Ideas:**

 * Represeenting to learn -- access to pictues, video (outside of classroom too)
 * After school collaboration: homework, student-to-student, projects
 * Extra chance for relatioinship building and reminders (like mini-conferences)
 * Safety alerts to students
 * Could interview people over the phone
 * Google answers to questions that come up (iPhone)

For physics

 * Instead of sketching experiment set-ups, snap a pic.
 * Captrue group work from the board / posters